Building construction



March 20,1945.4 P, WESTVEER '2,372,038

vBUILDING CONSTRCTION Filed Dec. 2, 1940 INVENT'OR Wafer Maf/ef BY @Mqbfww/ ATTORNEYS.'

Patented Mar. 20, 1945 UNITED STATESv `OFFICE 2,372,031; f f V surnoms consrooorron Peter Westveer, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Application, neeembesz, 194.0,I seriainoiacaiza l 4 claims. (ci. 'z2-1s) l This invention relates to improvements building constructions. i

The main objects of this invention are: e

First, to provide a novel prefabrioatedfconcrete building construction which is relativelyv ineXlJenE sive and characterized by the very efiective in sulating property of the walls thereof. v

Second, to provide a building construction of v the type described having triple insulated walls, which is formed practically in its entirety of pre.- fabricated concrete slabs and beams to 'enable the same to be readily and quickly erected ort location by relatively unskilled persons.

Third, to provide a building constructionwhich is very strong and rigidnotwithstanding the fact that it dispenses entirely with the use of .steer or wooden frame or preliminary construction.

Fourth, to provide a building element or ,slab

for a construction of the typedescribed.

Objects relating to details and economiesof the invention will appear from the description yto follow. The invention is defined in the claims.,

Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, Where- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a building wall construction in accordance with my inventionduring the progressv of erectiony thereof showing the construction and arrangement of various of the component parts.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary viewin sectionv on.` a`v line generally corresponding to line 2-2 of Fig, 1,l further illustrating the arrangement and method of assembly of the parts.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in sec-V I' tion on line 33 of Figs. 1 and 4, illustrating an f insulatedwall constituted by successive tiers or courses of composite slabs in accordance withmy invention. 4 4

Fie. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary viewin section on line 4-.4 of Figs, 1 and 3, particularly illustrating thecorner formation of the building and also showing the manner in which the inner and outer walls are tied together.

Fig. 5 is a detail view in perspective partially broken away and illustrating the fabrieation` of one ofthe inner wall elements or slabs.

Fig.l 6 is a fragmentary detail in section on line (5*6 of Fig. l, illustrating a detail of thetop slab and beam arrangement for the topcourse of the wall.

Figli is a perspective view showing the con.- struction of a component slab employedinl the.,

walls of the present construction', a portion of the concrete material thereof being reinovedto y results.` Economy .from a Cost standpoint is l 'illustrate the. reinforced internal structure of the slab.

' concrete building construction which eliminates all necessity ofemploying preliminary framing steel or wooden members, is erectable practically in` its entirety on location using preformed concrete elements, andv has a very effective thermal insulating characteristic by reason ofits double air space arrangement andthe embodimentv of insulatingmaterial iny they slabs so that when as. sembleda complete insulating wall thereof is prof vided- 4 Generally stated, the Construction consists of prefabricated. wall slabs of reinforced' or unre-t inforcedcharacter andhollow post blocks adaptedt to,A be erected withthe slabs in successive .cement :banded`- tiers orcourses and unitedy by concrete poured interiorly thereof whereby to bond ,the

'so arranged as to provide an insulating space on either sidethereof with the result that the wall has high insulating. qualities. The slabs are relatively light, but are rigidly held. in place by the .reinforced post and beam structurer referred substantially contributedto by thefact that the elementsv themselves. are of relatively inexpensive nremolded construction and may be rapidly aS.- sembledy or erected on the job by relatively unskilled labor. relatively little masonry being in-y volved as compared to the construction of orda nary brick or concrete block'buildings` The slabs. posts and .the like are quickly but effectively erected and reinforoedby anyone having the moet elementary knowledge of masonry. l

i Reierringto the drawing; the component parts of the building. construction will first be generally described, after ywhich a description of the Y V. operationof assembling or erecting the same in a building constructionvwill enable the character and relation of .the elementsto be more clearly A.

described. These elements consist in general'of theouter. and inner wallsl. 2 made up respeo` tively of sueeessive.- vertically arranged courses. of the Prefabricated outer and inner slabs 3, 4. respectively, braced and maintained in `rigid erected position by intermediate posts 5, which are loonstltutdby successive hollow concrete .blocks 5 arranged vertically end to end and strongly bonded and tied together by concrete I lling the interior thereof from top to bottom of the posts. At the corners of the construction the walls I, 2 abuttingly engage the corner posts 8 which, like posts 5, are constituted by hollow concrete blocks 9 arranged end to end and suitably reinforced and bonded interiorly thereof in a manner to be described. For accommodating window frames I and the like, I employ the hollow prefabricated post-like blocks Il dierin'g only slightly from the corner post blocks, which are likewise arranged end to end and reinforced and bonded internally by concrete l2. The top course of the building wall, generally designated I3, includes inner and outer wall slabs I4, I5 of somewhat different construction fromY` the slabs 3, 4, serving to receive and support a top horizontal beam I6 and concrete i1 laid -along the same to complete the wall construction. c

Referring to Figs. 3 and 5, -the inner wall 2 is in reality a composite wall including they slab members 4 and sheets or panels I8 of suitable insulating material, for 'example,' Celotex of the same llateral dimensions as the slabs 4, or as shown in Fig. 3 the panels II!l may "be of greater lateral Vdimensions than the slabs 4 so that the fibrous panels are in abutting relationship to provide an air tight connectiontherebetween when the adjacent edges of theslabs -4 arespaced by the tie members 35 andthe connecting bonding cement.` The panels I8 are' disposed and maintained in spaced relation to the same so asv to constitute twoair'spaces, oneV on either side of the insulating panel. The inner' and outer slabs 3, 4 are, per se, similar, being premolded, Vinternallyreinforcedor unrelnforcedblo'cks of concrete provided with opposed angular orfV-fchannel shaped side and en d surfaces, 'one of each of said sideand end surfaces being concave orrecessivepand the other of each of saidsurfacesbe# ing convex or protuberant. ThisproVides a reach and groove construction of the slabs which enables effectiveinterfltting of the adjacent slabs or blocks withone another or with the corner posts to be described. In the case of the inner composite wall, the blocks have embedded therein the sheet metal spacer or tie pins 20 each provided with a stop or abutment 2I engageable bythe insulating panel I8 and a pointed prong end 22 upon which the panel I 8 is impaled, following which the prong is Ybent over Vas indicated by the reference numeral 23 to lock or secure the parts of each composite inner Wallmember Vin place. The laterally bent offset portions or abut-z ment 2I and the pointed prong end 22 are readily formed by an incision inclined to and through one edge of the sheet metal member and for a substantial distance inwardly from said edge, the portion' 2l being then bent laterally to form vthe abutment. The outer slabs 3 are constructed similarly to the inner slabs, save that the members 20 are omitted since` no further insulation is associated with the outer slabs. A

As an alternative form of slab for thewalls I contemplate using a prefabricated reinforced block of the type illustrated in Fig. '7 and generally designated by the reference numeral 24. This consists of a sheet metal outer lrectangular frame 25 having opposed,respectively-recessive and protuberant V`shaped side and ends and provided with central reinforcing wires 26, spot weldeclto the frame. This form isfllled with concrete 21. It will be noted that the frame or form 25 is preferably provided with apertures or openings 28 struck in the side surfaces to provide ,With block 3| in place, an external or outer i Wall slab 3 is cement bonded thereto, disposing y ina manner which will be obvious to those skilled inthe art, effecting successive intertted bonded connection of the succeedingslabs to one another so as to constitute a rst external course. Successive courses are laid in a similar manner, the joints being brokenor staggeredif desired although care must be taken that the various respective post orbeam blocks 6, I2 may be vertically alined properly. The vertically arranged slabs of successive courses will likewise have intertted bonded engagement. The inner wall is neitverected or, if desired, may be erected concurrently' with the outer Wall in a single complete course.

In assembling 'the' inner wall relative to the outerwall,v a block 6 is bonded to the inner surface ofV an outer'sla'b' 3 and the innercomposite slab is th'en'a'ssociated with theside of Vthe ine sulatirg'pan'el 'I'in'abu'tting relation'to the post block `B inthe manner clearlyillustrated in Fig. 4.; In the vcaseof a slab 'adjacent corner 'post htheinner slab is` set up and'bonded to me positions with the iirotuberant side of the slaberige-ging the truncated corner of a block S, thereby providing a V recess for the reception of "a further similar composite Ainner slab dis-l posed at right angles to the one just laid and effecting a mitered joint at the corner of the inner block 9.v

In Fig. 4, Ythe reference numeral 35 designates a bendable sheet metal tie strip which is disposed 'across the` space between the inner and outer wallsand between successive courses thereof to tie the walls' together'in proper vertical parallel relation to one another and post 6. As indicated in Fig. 4, the opposite end portions of the tie vmember 35 are bent to provide inverted V shaped recesses for receiving the correspondingly shaped prtuberances on the upper edges of the outer and inner slabs 3 and 4 respectively. This interfitting engagement of the ends of the tie member with thef slabs holds the outer and inner slabs against both inward and outward'displacement relative to each other both priorto and after connecting said slabs to superimposed slabs by bonding cement. The tie'members 35 in connecting theouter and inner slabs 3 and 4 are d isposed between the superimposed blocks B of the post 5 and are embedded in the connecting bonding cement therebetween. -The posts and inner and outer walls are thereby securely connected to each other and the inner slabs Il are insulated from posts 5 by an air space and the fibrous panels I8 which are vdisposed against the posts. Obviously the insulating panels I8 may be apertured or recessed in any suitable manner for passage of the tie members 35 therethrough.

This strip is ofcourse 'embeddedin the cement bonding the two courses. I

In Fig. 2 I illustrate the provisions contemplated by my invention for receiving a window or like frame I0. In this case the frame uprights or postsA II constituted by the vertically alinedhollow blocks I2 have flat inner and side' surfacesl 36, 31 for engagement by the composite `inner panel and window framen respectively. These blocks l2 are provided, ydepend'- ingupon which side of the window they are disposed, with the V protuberances 38 or V recesses 39` forthe dovetailing4 reception of the outer wall slab-members 3.

The erection of the wall is proceeded with in -the foregoing manner until the desired height In is reached and the top course is to be laidl doing this I preferably employ the special slabs I3, I4 shown in Figs. 1 and 6, which are provided with the mutually facing ledges or offset shoulders 40 constituting an internal channel for sup vIn such top beam construction, the beams I6 terminate short of the hollow interior of the posts 8, for a reason to be explained. y

Following erection of the various post or'beam vmembers to the desired height, in the case of the corner posts havingl the relatively large central opening therein, steel reinforcing rods 42 suitably tied together in well known fashion are disposed lengthwise of the linterior of the kpost and concrete is poured to reinforce the post and bond the post blocks together. Similarly, concrete is likewise preferably poured in the hollow intermediate wall spacing post 6 and the window frame upright posts II to reinforce and bond the same.

A suitable finish surfacing or grouting shown in Fig. 4 and indicated by the reference numeral 43 may be applied to the outside of the walls if desired. The foregoing structure .is one which is extremely economical both in materials and labor involved in the erection thereof. The angled construction of the side surfaces of 'the various component slabs and blocks employed in the walls not only greatly facilitates the building process by enabling accurate intertted joints to be quickly formed; it also minimizes possible seepage of water therethrough. The walls include two air spaces, one on either side of the insulating panel I8, plusfthe said panel, a triple insulation which very effectively prevents heat loss through the walls at al1 points. This is an important feature of the invention. It will be evident from an in spection of Fig. 4 that the only point wherein there is any space not having at least a. dead air space plus insulating panel material is on the diagonal line through the corner post or beam 8. The blocks 9 constituting the corner beams effectively receive and aline the wall slabs which are effectivelytied together and reinforced by the intermediate posts 6 and window frame uprights II to constitute an exceedingly strong and rigid arrangement. The need for prebuilt wood or steel forms is entirely eliminated and the present building can be readily erected by relatively unskilled persons, thus greatly decreasing the cost of materialsand labor involved in the construeti'onf Il have'l illustrated land described my invention in embodimentswhich arevery practical;

bodirnents or adaptationsas it is believed this dis closure .will enablev those skilled in the art to embody 4or adapt my improvements as may be desired. f n

iHav-ing thus described by inventiony what I cla-im as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent,Y is:

1; In a building construction of the type described, inner and outer walls arranged in spaced relation to, one anothen said ,Walls each cornpris'ing prefabricated concrete slabs disposed in vertical courses with the slabs of each course in interfitted bonded relationl to one another, a

bonding cement for connecting the slabs in each wall, tie members separate from the slabs, tobe laid independently of the slabs, each tie member adapted to be disposed on the top of a slab in the outer wall and on the top of a spaced opposed slab of the inner wall and having interf fitting engagement with the tops of said slabs to hold the same'against both inward and outward displacement relative to each other both prior to and after connecting saidV slabs to superimposed slabs by the bondingv cement, said inner wall including panels of' fibrous insulating material secured'to' the slabs lthereof prior to erec-y tionlof the wall in spaced relation to saidwslabs and onthe side thereof adjacent the outer wall, whereby to provide two air spaces between the walls oneon either side of the panels, said fibrous insulating panels being of greater lateral dimensions than the inner concrete wall slabs to permit of abutting relationship of said panels in the erected wall when the adjacent edges of said inner concrete slabs are spaced by the connecting bonding cement, and 'vertical posts disposed between the brous. panelsand the slabs of the outer wall, said posts comprising superimposed blocks and bonding cement connecting said blocks, said tie members being disposed in the bonding cement betweensaid blocks and con--v necting the posts to the inner and outer slabs, the inner slabs being insulated from the posts by said panels of fibrous material and the air space between said panels and the inner slabs, the slabs of the inner wall being separate from the slabs of the outer Wall to permit the slabs in one of said 'walls' to be laid separately and independently from the slabs in the other wall.

2. In a building construction of the type described, inner and outer walls arranged in spaced relation to one another, said walls each comprising prefabricated concrete slabs disposed in vertical courses with the slabs of each course in intertted bonded relation to one another, a bonding cement for connecting the slabs in each wall, tie members separate from the slabs, to be laid independently of the slabs, each tie member adapted to be disposed on the top of a slab in the outer wall and on the top of a spaced opposed slab of the inner wall and having interfltting engagement with the tops of said slabs to hold the same against both rinward and outward displacement relative to each other both prior to and after connecting said slabs to superimposed slabs by the bonding cement, said inner Wall including panels of fibrous insulating material secured to the slabs thereof prior to erection of the wall in spaced relation `to said slabs and on the sideA thereof adjacent the outer wall, whereby to provide two I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other emair spaces between thewalls one on'either side of the panels vertical posts disposed between the fibrous panels and the slabs of the outer wall, said posts comprising superimposed blocks and bonding cement connecting said blocks, said tie members being disposed inthe bonding cement between said blocks and connecting the posts to the inner and outer slabs, the inner slabs being insulated from said posts by said panels of brous material and the lair space between said panels and the inner slabs, the slabs of the inner wall being separate from the slabs of the outer wall to permit the slabs in one of said walls to be laid separately and independently from the slabs in the other wall.

3. In a building construction of the type described, spaced inner and outer walls each comprising concrete slabs arranged in courses with the slabs bonded to one another, slabs of one of said walls having sheets of brous insulating material secured in spaced relation thereto and disposed in spaced relation to the other wall to provide a double insulating air space between the walls in erected position of the walls, the sheet carrying concrete slabs having means with end portions embedded in the body of the slabs, said means comprising a sheet metal member having a prong and a laterally bent offset portion, said prong piercingly engaging said fibrous sheets and, said laterally offset portion retainingly spacing the sheets from the sheet carrying slabs the outer end of the prong being laterally bent to retain the sheets on the prongs and against the laterally bent offset portion, said sheet metal member having an incision through one edge and for a substantial distance inwardly-from said edge, pro` viding for said prong and said laterally bent o'- set portion.

.4. In a building construction of the type described, spaced inner and outer walls, each comprising slabs arranged in courses, a bonding cement to connect the slabs in each wall, slabs of one of said walls having sheets of fibrous insulating nmaterial secured thereto prior to the erection of said wall and disposed in spaced relation to the other wall to provide a double insulating air space betweenthe inner and outer Walls in the erected position thereof, the slabs in the inner wall being separate from the slabs in the outer wall to permit the slabs in one wall being laid separately and independently of the slabs in the other wall, tie members separate from the slabs of the inner and outer walls to permit the same to be positioned independently of said slabs, each tie member adapted to be positioned on the top of a slab in the outer wall and on the top of a slab in the inner wall and embedded in the bonding cement connecting the slabs of the inner and outer walls, vertical posts disposed between and against the fibrous panels and the slabs of the outer walls, said posts comprising superimposed blocks and bonding cement connecting saidblocks, said tie members being disposed in the bonding cement between said blocks and connecting the inner and outer walls to said posts, the slabs of the inner wall being insulated from said posts by the panels of fibrous material and the air space between said panels and the inner slabs.

PETER WESTVEER. 

